A-Z Glossary

a-z powered access definitions and explanations

a – d	e – h	i – m
n – p	r – s	t – z

 

a – d

 

anchorage point

Where a lanyard is connected to within a access platform

 

anemometer

Device to measure wind speed (also called a wind meter)

 

basket

designated area where platform controls are located and the operative works from whilst up in the air

 

beaufort scale

a scale of wind speed based on a visual estimation of the wind’s effects

 

boom

part of a powered access platforms structure

 

boom lift

a type of powered access platform providing outreach (see also static boom or mobile boom)

 

boomlift

see boom lift

 

cage

see basket

 

check valve

a valve that allows fluid to travel in one direction only

 

cherry picker

see boom lift

 

cherry picker card

see PAL

 

control panel

instrument panel containing the ‘hand-operated’ function control switches, dials or levers

 

crush protection

see secondary guarding

 

dead man’s switch

a safety switch or pedal on a piece of machinery, such as an access platform, that allows operation only while depressed by the operator

 

decanewton

a gravitational metric unit of force

 

deca newton

see decanewton

 

decal

a sticker/transfer providing information about the MEWP

 

e – h

 

emergency lowering

a device/procedure to get operators down to ground level  where a fault has occurred or the operator is unable to get themselves down

 

emergency descent

see emergency lowering

 

extending deck

part of a scissor lift providing a small amount of outreach or to increase platform area

 

fall arrest

a form of fall protection which involves the safe stopping of a person already falling

 

fall restraint

a type of fall protection with a fixed length lanyard that keeps a worker’s center of gravity from reaching a fall hazard

 

familiarisation

to provide machine specific information relating to manufacturer’s instructions and warnings,  features of the MEWP, control functions, safety devices and emergency lowering procedures

footprint

in MEWP terms, the area that the base of a MEWP occupies when working. see also tailswing and zero tailswing

 

gradient

the angle of a slope that a MEWP can be safely operated

 

ground assessment

inspection of the ground conditions to determine any hazards that may hinder the use of the MEWP

 

ground controls

instrument panel located at ground level containing the ‘hand-operated’ function control switches, dials or levers

 

harness

see safety harness

 

health & safety at work act

an act to make further provision for securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work and for protecting others against risks to health or safety

 

hire

obtain the temporary use of (something) for an agreed payment

 

hose

see hydraulic hose

 

hydraulic hose

a means to transfer hydrualic oil to different parts of the MEWP to enable lift or drive of the machine

 

hydraulic

relating to a liquid moving in a confined space under pressure

 

i – m

 

interlock

a safety device used to help prevent a machine from harming its operator

 

IPAF

International Powered Access Federation, an accreditation body for training on MEWPs

 

jacks

a mechanical lifting device to allow a MEWP to be levelled

 

joy stick

part of the control panel enabling operation of a certain function within the MEWP

 

joystick

see joy stick

 

kickplate

part of a working platform to stop tools or materials being kicked or falling from it

 

lanyard

device to attach a harness to a suitable anchorage point

 

lease

see hire

 

limit switch

a mechanical/electrical safety device

 

load sensor

a form of limit switch to detect weight within a platform and prevent overloading

 

LOLER

Lifting Opertaions and Lifting Equipment Regulations. Regulations to reduce the risk of injury from lifting equipment used at work.  Also used as a term covering the periodic examintion of a MEWP

 

MEWP

Mobile Elevating Work Platform, term used to describe any form of powered access (scissor lift, boom lift, cherry picker etc)

 

magic carpet

see scissor lift

 

mobile boom

any boom lift that can be driven when the platform is in an elevated position

 

mobile vertical

see scissor lift

 

n – p

 

narrow access

type of MEWP designed to fit through a restricted opening such as a door

 

non-return valve

see check valve

 

newton force

the newton is the International System of Units derived unit of force. It is named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on classical mechanics, specifically Newton’s second law of motion

 

negative reach

any MEWP allowing the basket/platform to be positioned lower than the chassis

 

outrigger

a device to increase the base area of the MEWP and also enable the unit to be levelled

 

PAL

Powered Access Licence (also known as a PAL Card); proof that an opertaive has been trained to a recognised standard by an IPAF certified instructor and training centre (also see IPAF)

 

PAL+ Training, PAL Plus Course

A more advanced course to the normal PAL operator course, principally for powered access usage in confined spaces. For more info see PAL+ Course page

 

PAV

Push around vertical; type of MEWP that can only move vertically and cannot be driven at height

 

PPE

personal protective equipment (eg hard hat with chin strap, safety harness, saftey boots etc)

 

PASMA

Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association; accrediting body for training on mobile towers and other ancillary equipment

 

platform controls

see control panel

 

platform height

height of the MEWP basket where the operators feet are; usually add 2m or 6 foot to establish working height

 

podium steps

non-powerd low-level access (less than 2.5m) piece of access equipment fitted with guardrails

 

podium

see podium steps

 

pothole protection

bars/flaps usually found on some scissor lifts  to protect the machine from dropping too far into a pothole causing a tip over

 

powered access

terminology to cover any type of MEWP

 

Powered Access Licence

see PAL

 

PTO

Power Take Off; nables power to be transferred from the engine to the hyrdaulic system of a MEWP

 

PUWER

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.  The regulations require that users of work equipment carry out risk assessment and provide work equipment that is suitable for its intended use without putting people at risk

 

r – s

 

rental

see hire

 

rescue plan

part of a safe method of work to rescue operatives who may have been injured at height or unable to get themselves down from height due to a fault on a MEWP

 

risk assessment

a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm

 

rough terrain

uneven or irregular ground conditions that a MEWP may have to work on or travel over

 

safety harness

part of an operatives PPE consisting of a serious of webbing straps and karabiners used in conjuntion with a lanyard

 

scaffold tower

form of non-powered access made of prefabircated elements such as aluminium or fibre glass

 

scissor lift

a type of MEWP that can usually only move vertically

 

scissor pack

mechanical lifting mechanism of a scissor lift

 

secondary guarding

a safety device that either prevents the operative from being crushed or alerts other personnel around them if they have been

 

side force

in MEWP terms refers to the side load limit a machine can sustain. Drilling or use of pressure washers can create a side force

 

solid tyres

solid tyres are a type of tyre generally fitted to electric powered MEWPs that are hard wearing and cannot be punctured; some are also non-marking

 

spreader pads

boards or pads placed under the MEWP jacks/outriggers to distribute the load of the machine on the ground underneath

 

spider lift

see tracked access

 

static boom

refers to any boom type MEWP that cannot be driven at height; examples could be a truck mounted boom lift or tracked platform

 

stabiliser

similar to jacks/outriggers on a MEWP and normally are fitted to stabilise the chassis not to lift the machine off the ground

 

SWL

Safe Working Load; consists of everything put into the platform (equipment, persons and tools)

 

t – z

 

tailswing

where the MEWP is rotated/slewed and the counterbalance or boom projects outside of the base working area of the machine, see also zero tailswing

 

tilt alarm

a safety device fitted to some MEWPs that detects if he machine is working on a gradient (slope) above the manufacturers limit

 

tower

see scaffold tower

 

tracked access

a type of MEWP mounted on caterpillar tracks

 

truck mount

where a boom type MEWP is fitted to a road going vehicle chassis, usually a flatbed chassis

 

valve

see check valve

 

van mount

where a boom type MEWP is fitted to a road going vehicle chassis, usually over a panelled rear storage area

 

VMP

vehicle mounted platform; where a boom type access platform is fitted to a road going vehicle chassis

 

weight limit

see SWL or can refer to the weight limit of an area of ground for the access platform to be set up on

 

wind meter

see anemometer

 

working height

A comfortable height for an operative to work at and is the platform height of an access platform plus 2m or 6 foot

 

yoke

the part of MEWP that the boom arm is stowed into

 

zero tailswing

where the access platorm is rotated/slewed and there is no projection outside of the footprint of the machine, see also tailswing